New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-29
KILLING A PARTY.

This spectacle at Saratoga is ominous. Clevc-
lands officials swarming to convention to do
his bidding-that means mischief for Mr.. Cleyc-
land and his party. The philosophy OF party
organization based on patronage has been July
tested BY experience. President Cleveland IN
buildng Democratic hopes on adroit use oil
the appointing power, takes his party back into
the political dark ages, and depriycs 1t OF It's
best hopes OF success.
Let us look back three years, and ask What
the vote of this State would have been in Nov
cmber. 1884, if honest believers in Civil Ser
vice Reform had then before their eyes The
instructive spectacle presented by the Saratoga
Convention of 1887. Would they have De-
Iicyed that genuine reform could by any posi-
bility be promoted through alr. Cleveland
election. Justice must be done to those who
voted for him in that sincere belief lli-suppoftee
as it was even then. Nothing need DC SAID Oh
the professional reformcrs whose inflated van
;tv and whose anger because the Republican
Marty had not submitted to their dictation
snurred them to vouch for Mr.. Cleveland be-
fore they knew anything about him. Leaving
them out of sight altogether. there was Still
considerable body of conscientious voters, noI
especially well informed on that occasion, GER
tainly. since they trusted largely TO Mr. curtis
for enlightenment, but in honesty OF heart De-
lieyine that Mr.. Clevelands election In 1854
would intrench Civil Service Reform impreg-
naby By the enforced assent OF the only party
which had ever resisted it. Does any man
doubt how these voters would decide to-day
ON the same question? Never has the public
service been more shamefully prostitutcd to
tIa do n
fashioned Democracy. How many viii vote,
in these more enlightened days, to uphold the
practices which made Pierce and Buchanan
burden even to their own party?
Patronage invites thousands, but can only
appeasc hundreds. II is in the nature Of things.
and no conceivable device can get rid OF the
fatal weakness which results from distribution
Of few offices to many hungry oiiice-seekers.
Disappointment and disgust, quarrellng and
wrangling, willingness TO sec leader beaten
who offends by his selections, always and ncccs-
sarily follow. Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Hill have
each body OF adhercnts. Each has been
obliged to select from many hundreds who had
claims upon him, few to be preferred. That
means for both loss Of friends, loss Of conf
dence, loss of power. All over the country the
party mas Dcch ooHSco '" 0h"V'' ii''i' '''
active workers a few to receive rat places.
The many who are denied feel that they have
deserved not less than the few who are re-
wardcd.
Party strength comes from the interest OF
voters and workers in the principles and objects
of the party. In proportion as any party sub
stitutcs for this honorable motive a lower and
selfish greed for gain and place, it stunts
patriotic feeling, kills interest In the principles
and aims Of the party, encourages faithlcssness
TO those aims and to pledges and brings defeat
nearer. President Cleveland has done his full
share in preparing the way for Democratic
defeat next year. and his Saratoga Convention
Of pcrnicions partisans serves notice on dis
satisfied Offices seekers that they have nothing
to lose by the defeat Of the party he controls